éNO, ités not really,é protests comedian Tony Burgess when quizzed about how much his latest play, Doorway, is influenced by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett. Comparisons were first made when he penned the Godotesque Fire Salad about three firemen in a desolate station waiting for a fire.

But, it seems, the rumours that he was to write a homage to Beckettés Breath about a long protracted sneeze, were just that é rumours. With this, he picks up a theme he explored in his first play, Comfortable Shoes.

Homelessness

éI wanted to do a play about homelessness again but from a different angle.é Doorway takes the point of view of a documentary filmmaker making a film about homelessness.

But as he sits in a warehouse during a heatwave preparing to shoot his film, he becomes gradually more and more obsessed and frustrated. The soundman wants to go home and someone keeps falling out of the window. Nope, ités still sounding a bit Beckett Tony.

éWell I suppose it is a bit absurd. I mean, a heatwave in Manchesteréé The play also uses the same cast of comedy actors as Fire Salad but minus comic Mick Ferry. éHeés on holiday with his kids. Ités official heéd rather risk gastro-enteritis at Butlins than work with me again!é

Doorway is at the Royal Exchange Studio from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 June.